An officer at the scene of Julian Groover’s arrest in September of 2011 finds a stash of ‘ice’ which is the crystallized form of methamphetamine and still most popular drug on the street. The approximately 14-ounce bag seized in the arrest is a record amount for Jones County.

The Jones County arrest of a repeat drug offender ultimately resulted in a 15-year sentence that will be served in federal prison.

Julian Groover was arrested Sept. 29, 2011, by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department following an ongoing investigation led by investigators Robert Reece and Gerry Nelson.

Reece said officers were waiting for Groover when he arrived at Huddle House in Gray at 10:55 p.m. When contact was attempted, the suspect got back in his Nissan and fled.

“He saw us and took off,” the investigator said. “We thought we had the area surrounded, but he went behind the grocery store and somehow got away from us.”

Reece said Sheriff Butch Reece had just received a new vehicle, and Groover actually wrecked the sheriff’s new car following a pursuit around the parking lot near Dulles Park Apartments. The cars went down the bank beside the apartment complex, and the suspect jumped out of his car and took off.